PPLEASE NOTE, OUR RESTAURNATS LOCATED DOWNTOWN CHICAGO AND WASHINGTON D.C. WILL BE CLOSED SATURDAY, JUNE 6.

Posted on June, 4 2020.

We haven’t said a lot these past few days. We stand unequivocally with Black Americans and the tens of thousands of people of conscience demanding that we live up to our values as a nation. But it is the voices of those who have suffered the injuries of systemic racism that must be heard right now. We are listening intently. As we face the indisputable truth that we can do better, we reflect on how we can best drive meaningful change within our own organization and communities.

We are starting with a thorough review of our corporate giving strategies to ensure that we are focused on efforts to eliminate social injustice and improve lives in Black communities and communities of People of Color. We are making an immediate contribution to the NAACP LDF. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans.

We know that actions speak louder than words and that we have a lot of work to do. It's a start. We pledge to move with deliberate speed and look forward to reporting back to you on our efforts.

R.J. Melman
President

Lettuce Entertain You cares greatly about the health and safety of its employees and guests. In the last few weeks, we have closely monitored developments in the current COVID-19 outbreak and have initiated enhanced protocols to reduce opportunities for the spread of this virus in all of our restaurants and offices. Our actions are focused on guidance from the CDC along with state and local resources, and we continue to rely on their leadership. We are now facing a situation in which our actions can make a difference, not only to the health and safety of our employees and guests but also to our communities.

The Holiday Bonus cards expired as of April 15 and cannot be used at this time. However, once ALL of our dining rooms are open again for full-service dining, we plan to honor the Holiday Bonus cards for an additional 30 days. At that time, you will have four weeks to use the cards for dine in or carryout. As soon as we get clarity on when we can fully reopen, we will send a communication outlining the dates of the 30 day extension period.
Also, please keep in mind that the Holiday Bonus cards can be used any year between January 2 - April 15. If you are still unable to use the cards during the 30 day extension, please hang onto them and you can use them again next year, January 2 - April 15, 2021.
Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you all soon.

Please keep in mind that the Holiday Bonus cards can be used any year between January 2nd - April 15th. The Holiday Bonus cards can also be used for carryout up to April 15th at participating restaurants during the government mandated shutdowns.

We hope that this extension gives you more time to use your cards for carryout and dining in once we re-open. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and send a communication when we have confirmed the new dates. Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Many of you have asked how you can support our teams, we have set up a site to collect funds that will benefit our hardworking staff Employee Relief Fund

Based on direction from governmental agencies and as part of our ongoing effort to slow the community transmission of COVID-19, LEYE will temporarily close additional locations. Effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, all Lettuce locations will close to dine-in guests until we are permitted to re-open by the applicable government authority.

We will reevaluate our options going forward based upon guidance and direction from health and government officials. In the meantime, we strongly encourage everyone to protect themselves and others by continuing to follow CDC guidelines (including social distancing, frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and staying home if ill) to combat community transmission.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

Be On The Look Out For These Food & Beverage Trends in 2020

Jan 22, 2020

2019 brought us cauliflower pizza crust, the Japanese soufflé pancake and so much more. But food is always trending and who better to predict what’s going to be the next culinary craze in the new decade than our chefs and beverage directors at Lettuce Entertain You. Here, they give us a glimpse into some of the things we can expect to see on their restaurants’ menus in 2020!

Mon Ami Gabi’s vegan menu

We hereby proclaim January as “Veganuary”

Turns out, you may not need to ditch the red wine in the New Year after all, just red meat. In 2019, innovative vegan dishes at restaurants from fast casual to fine dining were everywhere, and we predict this trend is here to stay. From nachos and tacos to French Onion Soup, our chefs have found a way to make your favorite comfort food dishes 100 percent plant-based and delicious.

Omakase experiences are here to stay

A course from Sushi-San’s 45 minute omakase

Another trend that is here to stay are omakase experiences. 2019 introduced many high-end omakase restaurants to the dining scene, especially in Chicago and our sushi experts predict that there is no sign of these experiences slowing down in 2020.

“What you saw this past year was a lot of high-end omakase restaurants opening in Chicago. As people become more familiar with that type of cuisine and experience, eating that level of sushi has started to become more approachable. In 2020, I believe you will see a wider range of omakase and special sushi experiences,” – Amarit Dulyapaibul, Partner, Sushi-San.

Sushi-San just launched the 45-minute omakase for $45, which is an approachable and fun way to have an omakase experience. There will also be a hand roll bar at Sushi-San that is opening in Willis Tower, which is another way to eat sushi in a quick and fun environment.

Get excited, a high-end omakase room from Chef Kaze Chan is coming to River North, opening right above Sushi-San in 2020.

Alternative milks; especially oat milk

Oat Milk Latte at Beatrix

Move over dairy milks, and even soy, because more diverse and healthier alternatives are coming to menus near you. You may have noticed a rise in milk options to order in your morning coffee from almond milk to oat milk, coconut milk to rice milk. Pro tip: Next time you are at Beatrix, try the Hazelnut Oat Mocha made with hazelnut, mocha, chai, oat milk and espresso (available at all Beatrix locations).

From Whole30 Delivered and Seaside’s, Lettuce Entertain You embraced the trend of virtual restaurants starting in 2019. Virtual restaurants are concepts available only via delivery, making it quick and easy to get exclusive dishes delivered right to your door. The growing popularity into ordering delivery is what’s fueling the fire for more and more of these virtual restaurants to pop up. Who knows, you may just see new virtual concepts from Lettuce Entertain You open this year.

Now let’s turn our attention to vino. According to our resident wine experts, here are a few wine trends to look out for in 2020.

A return to the classics

“Moving into this New Year, I think we’re going to see a return to the classics. The past few years, experimental varietals from little known places and producers have been fantastic in pushing consumers to drink outside of their comfort zones. Drinking the classics also doesn’t mean breaking the bank, it’s more so learning classic varietals from their long standing home regions, including: Sangiovese from Tuscany, Chenin from the Loire, Tempranillo from Rioja – all good examples of classic wines that are downright delicious and can be very approachable in price point,” – Nate Redner, Beverage Director, Aba, Ema, Antico Posto, and Beatrix.

Pass the porron

“2019 was about large format wines and in 2020, I predict we will be seeing more porrons on menus. Porrons were originally designed for keeping the drink cool or temperate, and more importantly, easy sharing with friends. It’s a fun and interactive way to share wine with friends and the glass design gives each blend some light aeration for a still-elevated wine tasting experience,” – Bobby Joe Rinaldo, Wine Director, Stella Barra Pizzeria & Wine Bar.